Skip to main content
Elitech TravelsHolidays · Visas · Forex
CallWhatsAppVideo callFree quote
My passport (valid from 2016 to 2026)

Glossary · Flights & airports

Self-transfer

Connecting between two flights booked on separate tickets. Neither airline is responsible for the connection, so you collect bags, clear immigration if needed, check in again and bear the cost if a delay makes you miss the second flight.

Fact-checked By the Elitech Travels editorial desk
Gpkp · CC BY-SA 4.0

Definition

Connecting between two flights booked on separate tickets. Neither airline is responsible for the connection, so you collect bags, clear immigration if needed, check in again and bear the cost if a delay makes you miss the second flight.

Why people do it

Separate tickets can be much cheaper. A Lucknow traveller might fly IndiGo to Delhi and then a Gulf airline onward to Europe, or a Bengaluru group might combine a flight to Bangkok with a low-cost ticket on to Phuket. Portals also sell self-transfer itineraries that stitch separate tickets together.

What changes compared with one ticket

  • No protection: if the first flight is late, the second airline treats you as a no-show and may cancel the rest of that ticket, including your return.
  • Bags: you collect them and check in again. Check-in for international flights from India typically closes 60–75 minutes before departure.
  • Immigration: abroad, collecting bags means entering the country, so you need a visa or visa-free entry there. See transit visa.
  • Allowances: a domestic leg on its own ticket usually allows 15 kg, not the 23–30 kg of your international fare. See baggage allowance.
  • Airports and terminals: Bangkok has two airports (BKK and DMK), and in Delhi your domestic and international flights may use different terminals linked by a shuttle.

How to do it safely

  1. Leave at least 4–5 hours for a domestic-to-international connection in India, and an overnight gap for long-haul connections abroad.
  2. Book the second flight on a fare you can change cheaply.
  3. Carry a night's essentials in your cabin bag.
  4. Check whether your travel insurance covers missed connections on separate tickets; many policies pay little or nothing.

If the budget allows, a single ticket is almost always the safer choice. Compare both on our flights page.

Related terms

LayoverNo-showTransit visaBaggage allowanceTrip cancellation cover

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss my second flight on a self-transfer?
The second airline usually marks you as a no-show. You lose the fare apart from refundable taxes, and on a return ticket the return flight may be cancelled too. Call the airline before departure if you know you will be late; many will move you to a later flight for a change fee, which costs less than a new ticket.